* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download study-notes-for-2016-2017-1st-qtr-exam
Impact event wikipedia , lookup
Copernican heliocentrism wikipedia , lookup
Aquarius (constellation) wikipedia , lookup
Planets beyond Neptune wikipedia , lookup
History of astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Tropical year wikipedia , lookup
IAU definition of planet wikipedia , lookup
Lunar theory wikipedia , lookup
Definition of planet wikipedia , lookup
Astrobiology wikipedia , lookup
Planets in astrology wikipedia , lookup
Rare Earth hypothesis wikipedia , lookup
History of Solar System formation and evolution hypotheses wikipedia , lookup
Planetary habitability wikipedia , lookup
Astronomical unit wikipedia , lookup
Geocentric model wikipedia , lookup
Formation and evolution of the Solar System wikipedia , lookup
Extraterrestrial skies wikipedia , lookup
Extraterrestrial life wikipedia , lookup
Hebrew astronomy wikipedia , lookup
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems wikipedia , lookup
Parts of Our Solar System Notes Our Solar System consists of many objects including the Sun, planets, Moons, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, meteors, meteoroids, & meteorites. All of these objects revolve around our sun due to gravity. T Everything in our solar system revolves around the Sun because it has the most gravitational pull in our solar system due to its immense size. Moons Moons are natural satellites that revolve around something larger like a planets and asteroids. Most moons are usually made of rock. In our solar system every planet has moons except for Mercury and Venus. The Earth’s moon causes the Earth to experience tides. Finally, because of the Earth’s moon is tidally “locked” to the Earth only one side of the moon is visible to the Earth. The moon undergoes moon phases as it revolves around the sun. Planets Planets are celestial bodies that revolve around the sun in an elliptical shape. They are grouped into inner and outer, based on distance from the sun and common characteristics. The 4 inner planets are considered rocky planets and are smaller than the outer planets. The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are much larger in comparison and are considered “gas giants” because of their size and their primary make up of gases. Planets are big enough to other some smaller objects to revolve around them (moons) and to clear other larger objects from near their orbit. The Earth is the only planet/space object in our solar system known to have life. Asteroids Asteroids are metallic, rocky bodies without atmospheres that orbit the Sun but are too small to be classified as planets. Known as "minor planets," tens of thousands of asteroids orbit in the main belt: a vast, doughnut-shaped ring located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. One scientific theory is that many asteroids are leftover pieces that did not form into planets with the solar system formed. Meteors, Meteoroids, & Meteorites 1. Meteorites = A stony or metallic object from interplanetary space that impacts a planetary surface like Earth. 2. Meteor = A small rock in space that orbits the sun. 3. Meteoroids - when a space rock enters the atmosphere, commonly known as a shooting star. Meteoroids glow because of pressure from the Earth’s atmosphere heating and melting the gases on the meteoroid. Our Sun Our Sun is much larger than a planet and is composed of hot, glowing gases (mostly hydrogen & helium) that are continually undergoing nuclear fusion. The Sun does not have a solid surface. The sun is currently about 5 billion years old and has enough helium to “burn” for another 5 billion years. Because of the sun’s immense size it has enough gravitational pull to cause everything in our solar system to revolve around it. Comets A small celestial body composed at least partially of ices and rock. Comets either orbit the Sun or pass through the Solar System on hyperbolic orbital paths sometimes taking 50-1000+ years to travel around the sun. Comets have sometimes have tails that trail behind them. Comets also have temporary atmosphere called a coma. Dwarf Planets Dwarf planets are round and orbit the Sun just like the eight major planets. But unlike planets, dwarf planets are not able to clear their orbital path so there are similar objects at roughly the same distance from the Sun. A dwarf planet is much smaller than a planet (smaller even than Earth's moon), but it is not a moon. Pluto is the best known of the dwarf planets. Comet Asteroid Moons Dwarf Planets Mercury Mars Earth Neptune Uranus Saturn Venus Venus Objects Bigger Than Earth Objects Smaller Than Earth Meteor Jupiter Mars Mercury The Sun Unique Properties of Earth The Earth has several unique properties that that make it different from other celestial bodies within our solar system. First of all, Earth sustains life while no other celestial body has been found to sustain life. The Earth is unique and can sustain life for the following reasons. Because of the Earth’s distance from the sun we have a temperate climate allowing the atmosphere to not be too hot or too cold in most locations for life to exist. The Earth receives just the right amount of energy from the sun. Secondly, the Earth is the only known planet to contain free oxygen (not bonded with other elements) which allows the Earth’s atmosphere to be breathable. Additionally, because the Earth’s atmosphere is able to trap the correct amount of energy the Earth also heats and cools through the Greenhouse Effect. The greenhouse effect also allows the Earth to remain the correct temperature to sustain life. The Earth also has the right mix of gases to make our atmosphere breathable. Thirdly, the Earth has a surface containing liquid ocean water. All living organisms require water to live. List 3 unique properties of Earth below: 1. The Earth is the only planet known to have Life –climate, temperature due to distance from sun 2. Atmosphere contains free oxygen (not bound to other elements) 3. Contains liquid water required by all living things Our 8 planets notes Planet Relative size Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune ° Pluto . Roman God of agriculture Greek sky God Roman sea God Greek God of the underworld Max. distance from sun 36 million miles 67 million miles 93 million miles 142 million miles 484 million miles 890 million miles 1780 million miles 2790 million miles 3660 million miles Diameter 3030 miles 7520 miles 7920 miles 4220 miles 88,750 miles 74,560 miles 31,570 miles 30,200 miles 1430 miles Average Temp. 872° F to -289° F 900 ° F 136 ° F to -130 °F 80° F to -190° F -148 ° F to -238 ° F -249 ° F to -292 ° F -330 ° F -306 °F -351 ° F Day length (rotation) Year length (revolution) Rings 58 days 243 days 1 day 1 day 10 hours 10 hours 16 hours 18 hours 6.4 days 88 days 225 days 365 days 687 days 12 years 30 years 84 years 165 years 248 years No No No No Yes Yes yes yes no Number of Satellites/moons 0 0 1 2 63 60 27 13 1 Only planet with known life, evenly heated by the sun, has readily available water. Brightest object in the sky. The only planet to rotate in clockwise direction. Closest to the sun. Atmosphere thin and made of helium. Interesting facts Much like the rocky inner planets. Sometimes its orbit goes inside of Neptune’s. Now considered a dwarf planet. Chief Roman God Made of mostly gas with some storm activity. Sometimes the farthest planet. Roman God of War It has rings. It lies on its side as it orbits the sun. Farthest plant seen with a telescope. Made of methane gas. Greek Meaning: “to the ground” Has many rings around it is mostly mad of gas. Its largest moon is bigger then mercury. Roman Goddess of Love Largest planet in our solar system. Has Great Red Spot which is believed to be a storm. Made of gas. Roman winged God messenger Has 2 polar ice caps and also has seasons. Named for Motions within Our Solar System Cause of Day & Night Day and Night occur on Earth because of the rotation of the Earth on its axis. 1 Earth day lasts 24 hours. The length of daylight and dark vary depending on the season and a person’s location on Earth. Cause of Seasons Seasons on Earth are cause by the tilt of the Earth on its axis and the Earth’s revolution around the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth is tilted more towards the sun during the summer and receives more direct energy from the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth tilts more away from the sun in the winter and receives less direct energy from the sun. The Earth’s revolution takes 365 days. Cause of Tides Tides are the rising and falling of water in large bodies of water like oceans and large lakes. The gravitational pull of the moon on large bodies of water cause the water levels to rise and fall creating high and low tides twice a day. Tides are also affected by the gravitational pull of the sun. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side. Since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day. Cause of Moon Phases The lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits the earth. At certain angles more or less of the sun’s light is reflected off the moon down to the Earth’s surface. During a full moon the entire sunlight moon is facing the Earth. During the new moon the other side of the moon receives the sun’s light and we cannot see it. The moon’s revolution takes 1 month. Motions within Our Solar System Cause of Day & Night Day and Night occur on Earth because of the rotation of the Earth on its axis. 1 Earth day lasts 24 hours. The length of daylight and dark vary depending on the season and a person’s location on Earth. Cause of Seasons Seasons on Earth are cause by the tilt of the Earth on its axis and the Earth’s revolution around the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth is tilted more towards the sun during the summer and receives more direct energy from the sun. In the Northern hemisphere the Earth tilts more away from the sun in the winter and receives less direct energy from the sun. The Earth’s revolution takes 365 days. Cause of Tides Tides are the rising and falling of water in large bodies of water like oceans and large lakes. The gravitational pull of the moon on large bodies of water cause the water levels to rise and fall creating high and low tides twice a day. Tides are also affected by the gravitational pull of the sun. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side. Since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day. Cause of Moon Phases The lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits the earth. At certain angles more or less of the sun’s light is reflected off the moon down to the Earth’s surface. During a full moon the entire sunlight moon is facing the Earth. During the new moon the other side of the moon receives the sun’s light and we cannot see it. The moon’s revolution takes 1 month.